Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Crane L. Lopes, Esq.
  • Patent number: 6669477
    Abstract: A time-difference process and apparatus for scoring supersonic aerial projectiles, such as military aircraft air-to-ground strafing projectiles fired at a strafe target, by detecting and measuring the acoustic shock waves propagated by the projectiles. The process and apparatus uses an array of at least six dynamic transducers to independently sample each projectile shock wave and transmit sampled signals to at least one all-purpose digital computer. The time-differences of arrival of the shock waves at each transducer are processed by an iterative algorithm implemented by the computer. The algorithm calculates projectile impact point, projectile velocity and other useful scoring data. The scoring data are used to quantitatively score the number of hits or misses by the strafing projectiles on the strafe target. Scoring data and other projectile data are selectably indicated to the operator by remote display and printout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Brian Lee Hulet
  • Patent number: 6570545
    Abstract: A polyhedral-shaped inflatable structure having substantially continuous inner and outer flexible surfaces is inflatable with air or gas so that a radar reflector, comprising a plurality of conterminous corner reflectors, is thereby positioned within the inflatable structure to reflect radar waves. The corner reflectors are preferably made of metallized reflective plastic film attached to a plurality of support filaments. Support members attached to the support filaments are pivotally disposed adjacent to the inner flexible surface to position the radar reflector within the inflatable structure. Removable fasteners are disposed adjacent to the outer flexible surface and concentrically proximate to the support members to thereby fasten the radar reflector to the inflatable structure without puncturing the inner and outer flexible surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Snow, Charles W. Tennant
  • Patent number: 6557450
    Abstract: A power indicating setter system monitors the power level of a fuze setter coil of a fuze setter system for a gun operable to fire inductively-fuzed shells. The fuze setter system transmits a carrier signal that induces magnetic field power in the fuze setter coil. The strength of the magnetic field power correlates to reliability of the fuze setter system to transmit fuzing data to the shells. The fuze setter coil induces a signal in an adjacent induction element. Circuitry, coupled to the induction element, operates to compare the signal to a calibrated signal produced by the circuitry. The circuitry, by a power indicator, functions to indicate to an operator when the value of the signal is greater than the calibrated value. The power indicator indicates during operation of the gun, thereby informing the operator of the reliability of the fuze setter system to transmit fuzing data to the shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Gary M. Cox, Larry Phillips
  • Patent number: 6454602
    Abstract: A high voltage bulkhead connector is disclosed that terminates and secures a standard silicon-jacket on a high voltage cable to a bulkhead and provides an easily disconnected electrical connection to an electrical device, such as a high voltage power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Joseph F. Sharrow